Juventus is unstoppable against Lecce at Delle Alpi. After their lead after 7 minutes with Vucinic, the Giallorossi are overcome by Capello’s side, with a triple score by Ibrahimovic and goals by Appiah and Nedved. The Bianconeri fly 3 points clear in front of Milan, defeated in Siena.
Lively match at the Delle Alpi. The Bianconeri start attacking after 3 minutes, with a Appiah-Ibrahimovic partnership and a pass to Nedved, whose finish ends little high over the crossbar. Lecce make the most out of their attack-oriented features, like fastness, and they take the lead on 7’ minutes: Cassetti’s pass cleared by the defence, ball to Pinardi who serves a volley to Vucinic, scissor-kick and goal (0-1). Juventus attempt on goal with Ibrahimovic after Nedved’s assist, saved, and on 16’ minutes they get the draw with a fine goal by Appiah: assisted by Tacchinardi, the Ghanian dribbles the Giallorossa defence from the midfield, gets face-to-face with their goalkeeper, dodges and scores (1-1). Lecce attempt on goal with Vucinic’s free-kick, deflected out, and after the following corner, Diamoutene’s header ends out (18’). Capello’s squad gets near to scoring on 25’ minutes with Del Piero, in front of the goal, anticipated by Diamoutene. The Bianconeri’s lead comes on 34’ minutes when Ibrahimovic, served by Camoranesi, dribbles an opponent and kicks the ball in (2-1). Lecce move forward and engage Buffon with Valdes but it’s Juventus again who score and again with Ibrahimovic. It’s 43’ minutes: the Swede is assisted by Nedved and defeats Sicignano from the edge of the box (3-1).
Capello replaces Del Piero with Zalayeta, during the break. On 9’ minutes, Zalayeta passes to Ibrahimovic, whose finish is saved. On 11’ minutes, it’s 4-1. The author of the goal is Nedved, who fires in a great right-footed shot from outside the box. One minute later, Tacchinardi is substituted by Blasi. The clear Bianconeri’s advantage dampens the tone of the match and few are the action worth mentioning, on both sides. On 33’ minutes, Birindelli replaces Pessotto. On 35’ minutes, Vucinic serves Konan in front of the goal, the ball gets in but the goal is null because of the striker’s offside. The 5-1 goal is extraordinary, scored by Ibrahimovic with a great shot from outside the box (37’). In the last few minutes, Dalla Bona converts a penalty, which seals the match on the 5-2 result.
JUVENTUS-LECCE 5-2
GOALS: 7’fh Vucinic, 16’fh Appiah, 34’ e 43’ fh e 37’sh Ibrahimovic, 11’sh Nedved, 44’sh Dalla Bona (pen.)
JUVENTUS: Buffon, Pessotto (33’sh Birindelli), Thuram, Cannavaro, Zambrotta, Camoranesi, Appiah, Tacchinardi (12’sh Blasi), Nedved, Del Piero (1’sh Zalayeta), Ibrahimovic. Manager: Capello. Substitutes: Chimenti, Montero, Kapo, Olivera.
LECCE: Sicignano, Diamoutene, Paci, Stovini, Rullo, Cassetti (34’sh Eremenko), Dalla Bona, Giacomazzi, Valdes (45’fh Konan), Vucinic, Pinardi (27’sh Mattioli). Manager: Zeman. Substitutes: Anania, Angelo De Almeida, Marianini, Camisa.
REFEREE: Trefoloni
YELLOW CARDS: 21’fh Cassetti
ATTENDANCE: 21.048
GATE TAKINGS: 419.176